Things Fall Apart

The Only thing certain in this world is change

The additional notes given explain a lot more efficiently why everything happens and what causes everything to alter. (These are few topics listed in the additional notes that aren’t listed in mine.) For example, the killing of Ikemefuna actually caused Okonkwo’s exile. The additional notes state that Okonkwo’s part in killing Ikemefuna implies that he went against the well-being and solidarity of the clan and its traditions. Ezeudu’s death (Oldest member of clan) concurs that to be killed by a man who went against the old traditions of Ezeudu’s village, Umuofia, should earn no peace in his lifetime. This effected Ezeudu’s corpse to cause an explosion in Okonkwo’s gun causing exile for Okonkwo. Also the additional notes state that because of Okonkwo’s exile, the white men change Umuofia. Without Umuofia’s great leaders such as Okonkwo governing the village, the white men come in and change everything including their customs and government. Even though Okonkwo thinks that his village has become more “feminine”, it is actually his fault that his village has distorted throughout his exile years. Finally, the additional notes also imply that powerful leaders such as Okonkwo are threatened by the church and the White men because they undermine the cultural value of their accomplishments. All the accomplishments of the strong leaders lose prestige if lower status men convert to Christianity. “The great cannot be measured against the worthless if the worthless have disappeared.” These are few of the topics that are listed in the additional notes that help me understand how “things fall apart” in the order that they do.

Many of my own notes are listed in the additional notes. Although one note in particular in my notes is involved with Nwoye leaving. As the additional notes state that Nwoye converting to Christianity causes big change in Okonkwo and how he thinks of Nwoye is also stated in my notes. Although how Okonkwo is thought by himself and others is not reflected in the additional notes. Okonkwo curses himself for having such a son as Nwoye who goes against his village’s customs. Although Okonkwo thinks that his chi is causing all of this, others see this in another view. People know that Okonkwo has disrespected the Ibo religion in many ways such as expressing anger in the Week of Peace and killing his own foster son, Ikemefuna. The villagers see that Nwoye converting is only a sign of following his father’s past experiences. This is one of the most important topics reflected in my notes not shown in the additional notes.

Although my notes and the additional notes differentiate, they are alike in few ways. Both of our notes show the importance of the church effecting great change in Umuofia and the surrounding villages, Nwoye leaving, and the death of both Ikemefuna and Ezeudu. Although my notes state many things implied by the additional notes, the additional notes clear up much confusion and explain the concept of the theme, CHANGE in the book. My notes are not as clear and understanding as the additional notes. I could have taken more notes on the topics that are reinstated in the book again such as Ikemefuna’s death and the reason for Okonkwo’s exile, instead of finding notes on smaller topics involving change.

Quotes for Change

1. Okonkwo didn’t have a start in life which many young men usually had.”(p. 15) – This quote shows when the book explained of how Okonkwo grew up independently because of his lazy, impudent father. The quote explains that Okonkwo had a different life than others in Umuofia. Okonkwo was a self-developed man and had no help from anyone. His accomplishments brought change in the way of his life in the future in which he accomplished great things.

2. “It was a crime against the earth goddess to kill a clansman, and a man who committed must flee from the land.”(p. 105) – This quote was the part of the book in which Okonkwo was thrown into exile. It explains that since Okonkwo killed Ezeudu’s son-a clan member, he must now leave Umuofia. Now Okonkwo will have to move to a different village and live a different life for seven years.

3. “But I fear for you young people because you do not understand how strong is the bond of kinship.” (p. 139) – Uchendu says this quote, when Okonkwo holds the feast for when he is going back to Umuofia in Mbanta. Uchendu is trying to say that the Christians are converting the kinsmen into their kind so they are losing their bond of kinship. The quote shows that the Church has brought a lot of change in the customs and government in all nine villages.

4. “The church had come and led many astray.” (p.142) – This quote explains that the church has converted many people into their kind decreasing Umuofia’s population. The quote shows the change the white men and the church have brought onto the customs, government, and population of Umuofia.

5. “We must fight these white men and drive them from the land.” (p. 144) – Okonkwo says this when he is trying to convince the Ibos the fight the white men. This quote expresses the hate build up behind Okonkwo and others who want to change Umuofia back into how it was before.

6. “How do you think we can fight when our brothers have turned against us?” (p. 144) – This quote is said to reason with Umuofians on why they cannot fight the white men because clan members cannot kill each other because it is against Ibo’s religion. This quote explains the reason why Umuofia cannot fight the white men and regain their rights. The quote shows us the change the white men have brought upon Umuofia and why Umuofia has become more “womanly”.

7. “Now he has our bros, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.” (p. 145) – Obierika says this to Okonkwo when he is explaining what has happened when Okonkwo was in exile. This quote explains that the white men has converted the brothers and weakened Umuofia. The quote reflects change because it shows that the Church has split up the Umuofian clan.

8. “He mourned for the clan, which he saw breaking up and falling apart and he mourned for the warlike men of Umuofia, who had so unaccountably become soft like women.” (p. 150) – Okonkwo says this quote when he thinks about how weak Umuofia had become since his exile. This quote explains how Okonkwo hates the change brought upon his village by the church. He defines them as “womanly”, which is a great insult in Ibo.

9. “The other people were released, but even now they have not found the mouth with which to tell of their suffering.” (p. 160) – When the six leaders of Umuofia including Okonkwo were released, this quote was said. The quote implies that the prisoners were treated so badly that they had no words to tell the others about their suffering. This quote infers to change because it shows a change in how Umuofians feel about the white men.

10. “Umuofia had indeed changed, during the seven years Okonkwo had been in exile.” (p. 142) – This quote basically explains itself. The white men had brought great change in how things worked. It infers to change because it shows that the change Okonkwo suffered to in his exile not only affected him but his entire clan which was altered by the white men and their ways.



The theme change is connected to many movies and books in many ways. An Indian movie, Mangal Pandey, is actually a movie that connects with the way change is expressed in Things Fall Apart. In this movie, the main character is fighting for his rights that have been taken over by the British during the time period. He is fighting for how his country’s government has been changed by the British. He leads a revolution against the British hoping to change back into the past government, but he does not succeed. This is similar to when Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart is trying to ask his clan to fight the white men and drive them out. Just like Okonkwo, Mangal-the main character, does not succeed. The stories also connect because the people taking over are Eurocentric in both stories and the heroes do not react well with the change brought upon by them.

Everything in life involves change. The only thing actually certain in this world IS change. Anything you do involves change in life. Change can have to do with something as big as moving to a different place and adapting to different life or as small as changing how you act or dress daily. For example, people who move to a different country have to adapt with change in many way. Immigrants have to adapt to the change in government, change in language, change in people, change in work, and more. I think moving to different countries is very hard to adapt to. Also change in seasons can affect how people live as well. The change in weather can affect how much you eat, how you look, how you act, and more. I think people change a lot in cold weather such as making people more obese even though there's less to consume. With warmth, people exercise more and work harder. Finally, when someone passes away, people go through change. People's feelings change throughout time. Just like how Okonkwo and Nwoye were affected from Ikemefuna's death. So those are a few examples on how change can affect your life. You cannot live in this world without change.

Summary:

The quote describes how Okonkwo, a man who loves to fight and filled with pride and prestige that he cannot confront change brought by the missionaries. In the story, Okonkwo wants to fight the white men in both Mbanta and Umuofia. Although he knows that the villages have changed, he wants the villages to redeem their ancestors and drive the missionaries out of their land. Since the time of the church’s arrival, Okonkwo wants to get rid of it. He is helpless because no one from either clan is listening to him. The quote also says even though Okonkwo is a strong, tough man, he cannot compete with the white men’s modern technology that has never been seen in the nine villages (such as the iron horse). Okonkwo is so stuck in the past because of his prestige and pride that he does not care to look at the new religion brought to his village.

I think that the quote is true. Okonkwo is so stuck in his greatness and prestige that he is not willing to accept that “the only thing certain in this world is change”. However, Okonkwo did make the right decision by representing his religion and its customs. If the clan members had listened to Okonkwo they possibly wouldn’t have listen to the missionaries. Since no one listened to Okonkwo and he knew he couldn’t take all the missionaries on his own, he had no reason to live and decided to suicide. I think that since Okonkwo couldn’t adapt to change, he couldn’t live on Earth so he killed himself.